Ms Jackie Harrington:

In many ways that is an issue for the Department of Education and Skills. That Department carried out and published a review of DEIS programme in 2017. The Department has enhanced its analysis and how it assesses educational disadvantage.

As part of that process and in the context of the increased funding provided to the school meals scheme, we have, as has been outlined, invited some schools outside DEIS which show a certain level of disadvantage to join the scheme. At this point, there are approximately 140 such schools in the scheme. In light of the increased funding for this year, we have written to approximately 60 more to invite them to participate from September.